Actor Sanjana Sanghi, who is set to share screen with Sushant Singh Rajput in Dil Bechara, feels her “understanding of the craft has undergone a transformation”. She was first seen as a young girl in the 2011 film Rockstar.
Delhi-born Sanjana Sanghi is all set to make her big debut as the lead opposite Sushant Singh Rajput in Dil Bechara. Busy prepping for the promotions for the film — an adaptation of the novel The Fault in Our Stars — she takes out time for her first-ever interview after the project’s announcement.
Missing being with her family in the Capital for Diwali, she says, “Diwali is not just a festival, but an emotion here! We take it very seriously. It’ll be my first time away from home [on Diwali]. I’ll celebrate it with friends from the industry, and hopefully, end up luckier than before! If I get a chance away from the promotions, I will squeeze in a night back to Delhi, for the many family rituals we always stick to. I am dying to be able to do that!”
Sanjana has earlier been part of films such as Rockstar (2011) and Hindi Medium (2017), but Dil Bechara will be her first as the leading lady.
Naturally excited, the actor says, “I have never been into crackers. I am hoping to be able to use my influence now to get more people get off it. On the film front, I’ve done films before, but honestly, it feels like a different life altogether, and not even the same profession! I shot for Rockstar when I was 14; it was almost a decade ago. I did various ad films, and then Hindi Medium. My understanding of the craft has undergone a transformation. The way I approached the set and process has been totally different. Memories are divided into pre- and post-Dil Bechara for me now.”
What has Sanjana’s parents’ reaction been to her turning to films full-time? “They’re over the moon,” says the 23-year-old, who graduated from college this year.
“I’m a nerd at heart. When I told them I’m taking this film up, they were really surprised, because I’ve been studious all my life. I had a bunch of job opportunities lined up, but I took the leap. As a child actor, mum would always be present on the sets, but this was the first time she wasn’t,” the actor adds.
Diwali is not just a festival, but an emotion [in Delhi]! It’ll be my first time away from home [on Diwali]. I’ll celebrate it with friends from the industry.
SANJANA SANGHI ACTOR